Howard's Countdown

6. SWIMMING SANTA ... EVEN AFTER CHRISTMAS -- The weather outside may be frightful, but for the fish, it's quite delightful ... at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium's WINTER WATERLAND. Continuing through New Year's Day, the sea life comes to life with the magic and spirit of the holidays. The aquarium has been transformed into an underwater holiday scene featuring larger-than-life aquatic-proof decorations, twinkling lights, holiday crafts, live music and caroling. Guests of Greater Cleveland Aquarium's Winter Waterland can also meet and take photos with Santa's subterranean pal, King Neptune, the god of water and sea, to make their holiday wishes even after Christmas. Holiday hours are Thursdays through Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ticket are $21.95 for adults and $15.95 for children. Greater Cleveland Aquarium is located at 2000 Sycamore St., on the west bank of the Flats, Cleveland. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 216-862-8803 or toll-free 855-602-3040, or go to info@greaterclevelandaquarium.com.

5. DUNHAM, GANG IN 'DISORDERLY CONDUCT' -- With his famed troupe of sidekicks -- Walter, the Grumpy Retiree; Achmed, the Dead Terrorist; the beer-fueled red-neck Bubba J; the manic purple creature Peanut; José Jalapeño, the spicy pepper from south of the border; and Peanut's own ventriloquist dummy, Little Jeff, a mini-version of the ringmaster himself -- JEFF DUNHAM brings his (technically) one-man "DISORDERLY CONDUCT" WORLDWIDE TOUR to Wolstein Arena at 8 p.m. Saturday. The international success of Dunham and his cohorts have been driven by his Comedy Central specials, which set global records for both ratings and sales. Last September, Dunham's fourth Comedy Central TV special, "Controlled Chaos," premiered to 8.3 million viewers, making it the most viewed cable show that night. Dunham continued to break ratings records at the end of last year, when The Bio Channel's premiere of Jeff Dunham: "Birth of a Dummy" became the network's top rated telecast in its history. Dunham's autobiography "All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, And Me," which debuted in late 2010 and instantly climbed the New York Times best sellers list, recounts his first public performances for a mere $5 a show as a fourth-grader in his Dallas hometown. The Wolstein Center is located at 200 Prospect Ave. Cleveland. For more information or tickets ($49.50), call (216) 687-9292, or go to wolsteincenter.com.

4. PICASSO MYSTERIES IN CLEVELAND -- Nothing like Picasso for the holidays, especially when it's by way of The Cleveland Museum of Art. The almost completely renovated museum presents "PICASSO AND THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE: DECONSTRUCTING LA VIE" as the inaugural exhibition in the museum's new Focus Gallery. It's the first exhibition to offer an intensive exploration of "La Vie," a signature work in the museum's permanent collection that is considered Picasso's culminating masterwork of the Blue Period. The exhibition includes related works on loan from the Museu Picasso in Barcelona, the most important repository of the artist's early work, as well as works by Francisco Goya, Albrecht Dürer and Auguste Rodin drawn from the museum's world renowned collections. New insights are provided into the meanings of this complex, enigmatic masterpiece and its pivotal role in the artistic development of the young Spanish artist. The exhibition will be on view at the Cleveland Museum of Art through April 21. For more information about museum hours and special events, call (888) CMA-0033, or go to www.ClevelandArt.org.

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3. SANDUSKY LAUGHS -- The Sandusky State Theatre, 107 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, gets into the laughing spirit at 8 tonight with comedian GENE RENFROE. Acclaimed for his laid-back style that quickly connects with his audiences, Renfroe talks about everyday problems such as child rearing, marriage and coping with dysfunctional in-laws in Chicago. Opening will be Chris Smith, known as "The Ultimate Road Comic" for his willingness to perform on the road nearly 250 days a year every year. Tickets are $10 all seats. For tickets or more information, call (419) 626-1950 or (877) 626-1950, or go to www.sanduskystate.com.

2. SKATE TAKE -- It's just not December in Northeast Ohio with out some special outdoor skating establishment. Try out the new, fresh ice through Jan. 6 (except New Year's Day) at the RINK AT WADE OVAL, 10820 East Blvd., Cleveland. Rink hours continue on weekends only through Feb. 17. Admission is free, and skate rentals are $3. Regular hours are from noon to 5 p.m. The rink will be open until 9 p.m. today and Jan. 4. For more information and a complete schedule of rink hours, go to bit.ly/Ps0j3t. Because of possible sudden inclement weather, visitors are advised to call (216) 707-5033 to confirm that the rink will be open at scheduled times.

1. MOVIE TIME AT THE PALACE -- The holiday season for families still includes an actually night or afternoon out at the movies, catching the big Christmas blockbuster. The best way to do so -- and not coincidentally the most economically way -- is to soak up the opulence of the LORAIN PALACE THEATRE. The Palace is continuing showings of the still top-grossing "The Hobbit," following the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Sort it all out in 3-D for half the price -- $7 -- of most movieplexes. For this engagement, the Palace offers two showings daily, including 7 and 10 p.m. today and Saturday and 4 and 10 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (440) 245-2323, or go to www.lorainpalace.com.